December 30, 2007

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 Scripture KJV

Reverend David S. Huffer

Westwood Baptist Church - 2124 Davis Road
 Waynesboro, VA

Luke
2:8    And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 
2:16    And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
2:17    And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
2:18    And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
2:19    But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
2:20    And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 

AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE

Luke 2:8; 16-20

 

What would Christmas be without a good sale?

·         After all – who wants to pay retail for all those gifts you buy?

·         “Pre-Christmas” sales are what we like at Christmas time!

 

And when all the presents are opened and families visited – what could be better than an After Christmas” sale?

·         Some people love getting next years wrapping paper, ornaments, and left over fake Christmas trees for next to nothing.

Have you thought about Christmas this season beyond all the buying?

·         Have you thought about why there is Christmas?

·         Have you thought about what God was doing before Christmas?

·         Have you thought about what happened after Christmas?

 

Think about this thought: Nearly two thousand years ago peace and joy came after Christmas!

 

We tend to put lock, stock, and barrel into Christmas day – the getting of the gifts (some wanted and some not wanted), and after all the gifts have been  opened and there’s nothing left under the tree:

·         Well – it’s anticlimactic!

·         To say the least – Christmas is over for another year!

·         Oh – I know we enjoy our gifts for awhile – but let’s face it – we begin to think about packing up Christmas and all its cheer for another year

·         And about having to go back to work and school and everything else that is fairly normal to us.

God on the other hand wrapped up His gift – His Son – and laid Him in a manger.

·         And then He told a bunch of ragged tagged Shepherds to come and they in turn went out to announce the After Christmas Shepherd Sale.”

 

Luke 2:17-20 – READ AGAIN

 

The after Christmas Shepherd Sale speaks of:

·         to tell him that Roger had been gloriously saved

·         Bob saw Roger about a year later and they talked about his salvation experience.

·         Roger said to Bob – “Bob, you knew about Jesus in High School and you didn’t tell me. You should have told me. You should have told me.”

FRIENDS – Guilt is not my aim in telling this story.

·         Glory is!

·         Roger was right. Bob should have told him - and – FRIENDS – you and I should be telling the “Good News” about Jesus: His life and death and how our sins are forgiven;

·         And Him being the treasure of our lives.

What we treasure – we will talk about!

·         Just listen to yourself talk to discover what you are treasuring to tell others.

·         The shepherds – told everyone what had happened

FRIENDS – Tell someone after Christmas what the Good News of your life is!

 

The After Christmas Shepherd Sale speaks not only of Telling and Treasuring, but:

RETURNING – V.20

I have to say this part is what excited me this week, as I began to look at what the shepherds did after Christmas.

·         It would be great to think the shepherds were asked by the Bethlehem Christian Organization of Really Great Eternal Life Changing Experiences to go on a speaking tour, and to eventually write a book – The Shepherds Secret Understanding of Christmas – and what really happened at Christmas.

BUT DEAR FRIENDS – Here is the truth:

·         The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks.

·         Oh man – they went baaaaack to keeping sheep!

 

AND WHAT WILL YOU AND I RETURN TO?

·         We will go back to work, school, and cleaning house – all the normal things of our lives.

BUT WAIT – SOMETHING HAS TO BE DIFFERENT!

Luke 2:20 – “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for ALL things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

There is a difference – they went back different than when they

came!

·         They went back with hearts full of the glory (worth; honor) of Christ

·         And their tongues were filled with praises to be expressed.

Two quotes from John Piper:

  1. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him

FRIENDS - I have to believe the shepherds were “satisfied” in God – because they went back “glorifying” God!

  1. “Treasuring Christ is something we spread to others – as the all-satisfying Treasure of life.”

FRIENDS – We need to return to our ordinary lives, jobs, schools, play – with a changed heart of being thankful!

 

The shepherds must have realized, as we need to, that God is with us in our ordinary lives.

·         Matthew 1:23 – “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel – which means – “God with us.”

 

CLOSE

God is found in the places we least think He will be found.

·         We assign Him to church buildings and cathedrals

·         When in reality He is found with us at our jobs, in school, at play, and everywhere else we go.

 

Someone has stated: “It is not so much where you live but how you live; and as you live, to the world your highest give.”

 

DEAR FRIENDS – The highest good is Christ.

·         What an after-Christmas sale God is giving us!

 

GO make Jesus look good by Treasuring Him, Telling others about Him, and Returning with Him into your everyday life!

 

AMEN!

 

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